Permitting Services

Permitting Services represents five different departments responsible for various activities in Maricopa County. These departments are as follows: Air Quality (AQ), Environmental Services (ESD), Flood Control (FCD), Planning & Development (P&D), and Transportation (MCDOT).

Permits are required for various activities and processes that emit smoke, fumes, vapors, particulate matter, dust, or other air pollutants. This includes, but is not limited to, activities and processes that burn any type of fuel, use organic solvents or materials, disturb the soil, process any type of soil, rock, or mineral, use thermal processes, or create particulate matter.

Planning Services involved with a proposed and imminent "use" of a property or an existing use in an unincorporated area including the following: group home; home occupation/home day care; plan of development; special use permit; status report; temporary use permit; zone change/rezoning; military compatibility permit; use compatibility & consistency determination.

The Flood Control District (District) issues Floodplain Use Permits for any development in a floodplain, including buildings, other construction, and extraction of sand and gravel or other material. Even if you may not need a building permit for your project, if you are doing work within a designated floodplain, you are required to obtain a Floodplain Use Permit before you build, grade, fill, install any type of wall or fencing, or perform any other man-made change to the property. Are you in a floodplain?

Planning Services involved with a proposed and imminent "use" of a property or an existing use in an unincorporated area including the following: group home; home occupation/home day care; plan of development; special use permit; status report; temporary use permit; zone change/rezoning; military compatibility permit; use compatibility & consistency determination.

The Flood Control District owns approximately 27,000 acres of property in fee title, and controls an additional 28,000+ acres in various easements in support of the numerous flood control structures we operate and maintain. A ROW Permit is required if you wish to use FCD property for permanent use such as bridge crossings and storm drain inlets, and for temporary use such as access.

For projects disturbing one or more acres of land or sites less than one acre that are part of a common plan of development in the unincorporated urbanized area a Stormwater Pre-Construction Application may be required.

A permit is required in unincorporated areas for solar water heater with ground mounted tank, irrigation/lawn sprinkler system, gas clearance, plumbing upgrades and repair, mechanical upgrades and repair, electrical upgrades and repairs. Most of these permits are web issued.

The Flood Control District owns approximately 27,000 acres of property in fee title, and controls an additional 28,000+ acres in various easements in support of the numerous flood control structures we operate and maintain. A ROW Permit is required if you wish to use FCD property for permanent use such as bridge crossings and storm drain inlets, and for temporary use such as access.

The Flood Control District owns approximately 27,000 acres of property in fee title, and controls an additional 28,000+ acres in various easements in support of the numerous flood control structures we operate and maintain. A ROW Permit is required if you wish to use FCD property for permanent use such as bridge crossings and storm drain inlets, and for temporary use such as access.